United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Kuwait’s Emir and Foreign Minister (FM) on Thursday to discuss the possibility of the Gulf state relocating Afghan citizens who supported the US in its 20-year long war. Washington has stated that these citizens could face retaliation from the Taliban if they stay in Afghanistan.
During a joint press conference with Kuwaiti FM Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Blinken said the US and Kuwait are “working together to help the Afghan people and support regional stability as coalition forces withdraw from Afghanistan.” Blinken added that “the United States is committed to helping those who helped us during our time in Afghanistan over the last 20 years [and] is engaged in “relocation planning” for the Afghans and their families. He noted that the evacuation efforts are part of ‘Operation Allies Refuge’, announced by President Joe Biden, to relocate Afghan nationals eligible for special immigrant visas. “At the State Department, we’ve activated an Afghanistan Coordination Task Force that is working on this,” Blinken said.
While Al-Sabah did not directly address the Afghan issue, he said that both sides “discussed several issues, regional and international [and] there are so many similarities” in how they approach these issues. “We talked about the importance of lending care of strategic discussions and dialogue and what is important for both countries and gave [an] extra push to the bilateral relations,” he added.
Great to see Foreign Minister Al-Sabah. It was an opportunity to continue the important work on the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, mediating regional disputes, increasing education exchanges, and advancing initiatives that will build a more prosperous and secure Middle East. pic.twitter.com/pporeewMYf
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) July 29, 2021
As US forces withdraw from Afghanistan, the Biden administration has vowed to evacuate thousands of Afghans who worked for the American government. The US fears that the Taliban will launch revenge attacks against those who helped the American war effort. A Task and Purpose report estimates that “70,000 Afghans who have worked for the United States—and their family members—are at risk of being killed as the Taliban push for a final victory.” Following the US drawdown, the militant group has launched offensives against Afghan troops and claimed control of more than 85% of Afghanistan.
Blinken also met Kuwait’s Emir, Nawaf Al-Sabah, to discuss military cooperation, regional security, counterterrorism, COVID-19, and other important issues. Blinken’s visit also coincided with the 60th anniversary of US-Kuwait ties and marked 30 years since the US launched ‘Operation Desert Shield’ to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.
Kuwait has been a major US ally since the 1991 Gulf War, in which American forces expelled the occupying Iraqi military of Saddam Hussein. Kuwait hosts over 13,000 US soldiers in more than five military bases. The Gulf country has also supported Washington in its war against terrorism by providing military and intelligence assistance. In return, the US provides “military and defence technical support to Kuwait [and] assists the Kuwaiti military with training, education, and readiness.”